U.S. National Clean Hydrogen Strategy and roadmap summary
Summary Given its potential to help address the climate crisis, enhance energy security and resilience, and create economic value, interest in producing and using clean hydrogen is intensifying both in the United States and abroad. Zero- and low-carbon hydrogen is a key part of a comprehensive portfolio of solutions to achieve a sustainable and equitable clean energy future. The United States is stepping up to accelerate progress through historic investments in clean hydrogen production, midstream infrastructure, and strategically targeted research, development, demonstration, and deployment (RDD&D) in this critical technology. In November 2021, Congress passed, and President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. signed into law the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117-58), also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). This historic, once-in-a-generation legislation authorizes and appropriates $62 billion for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), including $9.5 billion for clean hydrogen. Furthermore, in August 2022, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) into law (Public Law 117-169), which provides additional policies and incentives for hydrogen including a production tax credit that has further boosted a U.S. market for clean hydrogen. This report sets forth the “U.S. National Clean Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap.” The report was informed by extensive industry and stakeholder feedback including workshops and listening sessions, written comments from more than 50 organizations, and ongoing engagement. In addition, this roadmap sets forth an all of government approach to clean hydrogen, with contributions across multiple agencies as well as key experts in the Executive Office of the President. This inclusive and collaborative approach is critical to the success of this expansive technology. The report is meant to be a living strategy that provides a snapshot of hydrogen production, transport, storage, and use in the United States today, as well as an assessment of the opportunity for hydrogen to contribute to national decarbonization goals across sectors over the next 30 years. The report will continue to be updated with collaboration across government through interagency coordination. Pathways for clean hydrogen to decarbonize applications are informed by demand scenarios for 2030, 2040, and 2050 with strategic opportunities for 10 million metric tonnes (MMT) of clean hydrogen annually by 2030, 20 MMT annually by 2040, and 50 MMT annually by 2050. These values are based not only the opportunity for clean hydrogen production in the U.S., but on demand for clean hydrogen use across sectors, informed by achieving market competitiveness in specific applications. Using clean hydrogen can reduce U.S. emissions approximately 10 percent by 2050 relative to 2005,1 consistent with the U.S. Long-Term Climate Strategy.2 Third party analysis in DOE’s Pathways to Commercial Liftoff report estimates that by 2030, the hydrogen economy could also result in 100,000 net new direct and indirect jobs due to the build-out of new capital projects and clean hydrogen infrastructure. These jobs include both direct jobs like engineering and construction, and indirect jobs like manufacturing and raw material supply chains.
Summary Given its potential to help address the climate crisis, enhance energy security and resilience, and create economic value, interest in producing and using clean hydrogen is intensifying both in the United States and abroad. Zero- and low-carbon hydrogen is a key part of a comprehensive portfolio of solutions to achieve a sustainable and equitable clean energy future. The United States is stepping up to accelerate progress through historic investments in clean hydrogen production, midstream infrastructure, and strategically targeted research, development, demonstration, and deployment (RDD&D) in this critical technology. In November 2021, Congress passed, and President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. signed into law the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117-58), also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). This historic, once-in-a-generation legislation authorizes and appropriates $62 billion for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), including $9.5 billion for clean hydrogen. Furthermore, in August 2022, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) into law (Public Law 117-169), which provides additional policies and incentives for hydrogen including a production tax credit that has further boosted a U.S. market for clean hydrogen. This report sets forth the “U.S. National Clean Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap.” The report was informed by extensive industry and stakeholder feedback including workshops and listening sessions, written comments from more than 50 organizations, and ongoing engagement. In addition, this roadmap sets forth an all of government approach to clean hydrogen, with contributions across multiple agencies as well as key experts in the Executive Office of the President. This inclusive and collaborative approach is critical to the success of this expansive technology. The report is meant to be a living strategy that provides a snapshot of hydrogen production, transport, storage, and use in the United States today, as well as an assessment of the opportunity for hydrogen to contribute to national decarbonization goals across sectors over the next 30 years. The report will continue to be updated with collaboration across government through interagency coordination. Pathways for clean hydrogen to decarbonize applications are informed by demand scenarios for 2030, 2040, and 2050 with strategic opportunities for 10 million metric tonnes (MMT) of clean hydrogen annually by 2030, 20 MMT annually by 2040, and 50 MMT annually by 2050. These values are based not only the opportunity for clean hydrogen production in the U.S., but on demand for clean hydrogen use across sectors, informed by achieving market competitiveness in specific applications. Using clean hydrogen can reduce U.S. emissions approximately 10 percent by 2050 relative to 2005,1 consistent with the U.S. Long-Term Climate Strategy.2 Third party analysis in DOE’s Pathways to Commercial Liftoff report estimates that by 2030, the hydrogen economy could also result in 100,000 net new direct and indirect jobs due to the build-out of new capital projects and clean hydrogen infrastructure. These jobs include both direct jobs like engineering and construction, and indirect jobs like manufacturing and raw material supply chains.